Airplane

Abstract

A model aircraft of the flying canopy type employs a cloth canopy wing of the type shown in the U.S. patent of Jalbert, U.S. Pat. No. Re. 24,427, and includes a platform, a power plant on the platform, and a plurality of upstanding pylons mounted on the platform which attach to the triangular gussets of the Jalbert wing for supporting the wing in superimposed relation over the platform.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A flying canopy airplane, comprising an airfoil shaped cloth canopy having a plurality of depending attachments in the form of triangularly shaped gussets, means connecting said gussets to the bottom surface of said canopy with the apices thereof extending downwardly,   an underlying generally rectangular planar platform,   support means on said platform including a plurality of generally upwardly extendly pylons rigidly attached to said platform and having upper terminal ends,   means directly said pylon upper terminal ends to said gussets at said apices thereof for supporting said canopy in generally fixed relation superimposed over said platform,   a controllable propulsion engine mounted on said platform, at a forward end thereof, and a rudder mounted on said platform at the rear end thereof, said engine and said rudder providing the exclusive control of said flying canopy airplane whereby the flight of such airplane may be controlled by a two axis radio control unit.   
     
     
       2. A flying canopy airplane employing a canopy of the multiple cell wing type in which a forwardly opening canopy has an upper cloth member having an airfoil contour, a lower cloth member, with rib means between said members defining a plurality of longitudinally extending air cells, and having means defining a plurality of depending fore and aft supports which are attached to the lower member of the canopy, comprising means defining an airframe body, a power plant on said body for propelling the same through the air, a controllable rudder on said body, and a plurality of generally upstanding relatively rigid fore and aft members on said body, the longitudinal spacing of said fore and aft members on said airframe body corresponding generally to the longitudinal spacing of said fore and aft supports on said canopy, and means directly joining said fore and aft members with corresponding ones of said fore and aft supports, whereby said canopy is supported in relatively fixed superimposed relation over said body as a lifting device therefor. 
     
     
       3. A model airplane for use with a multiple cell wing-type lifting device in which a forwardly opening canopy has an upper member of airfoil contour, a lower member with means between said members for forming a plurality of longitudinally extending air cells, and with a plurality of depending wedge-shaped supports attached to the lower member of the canopy, comprising: a platform,   a power plant on said platform for propelling the same through the air,   a rudder on said platform for steering, and   a plurality of generally upstanding pylons mounted on said platform, corresponding in number and position to the number and position of said wedge-shaped supports and having upper ends thereof attached at the lower apices of said supports; for supporting said lifting device in elevated relation to said platform whereby operation of said power plant causes forward movement of said platform and attached lifting device for free flight.   
     
     
       4. The model of claim 3 in which there are pairs of fore and aft supports on said lifting device, and corresponding fore and aft pylons on said platform. 
     
     
       5. The model of claim 4 in which said canopy has a lower generally flat surface which is supported in generally parallel relation to said platform.